The response to our recent Chillin' with the Rip column, our guide to some of the best music to tune out the noise, was so overwhelming that we just had to get right back at it and bring you volume II.
Now, the goal of this column is to give all you waveriders a glimpse into some of the mellower tunes that come into The Ripple Office. While we love a good metal slugfest or punk-cretin slime-freak as much as anybody, let's face it, some days we just want something that isn't going to hurt. And the music in this column does that and even goes one step further. . . it soothes. Any of these discs will help to melt away the drama of the day, soothe your tired soul, and get you re-energized to approach the day anew.
Oren Lavie - The Opposite Side of the Sea
Israeli-born singer-songwriter, Oren Lavie's biography states that he has curly brown hair and suspiciously cold feet. For some reason, I find this statement to be oddly compelling and appropriate since it was the original "Popsicle Toes," Michael Franks who first came to mind upon hearing the eloquence of the opening track and hit single, "Her Morning Elegance." Tender and light jazz-infused pop, gently lilting from the stereo with the occasional touch of a classical flourish, "Her Morning Elegance," is an immediate invitation to the warm and magical place that is Oren's music. Graced with a breathy, yet slightly textured baritone, the song dances across the various moods of his jazz pop, as delicate as gossamer draped across an open window.
Elsewhere in his bio, Oren states that he was born two minutes behind schedule and he's been trying to catch up ever since. That may be true, but you'd never know that from this album. This is a masterpiece of nuance and mood, that gently unfolds like the morning dew dissipating under the new day's sun. Oren is in no hurry, as delicate piano brings on the intro to "The Man Who Isn't There," or as gorgeously picked acoustic guitar leads us into the standout track, "Locked in a Room." The songs unfold languidly, delicately, just as they should. There is no hurry, nor do I want there to be one. I want to lose myself in Oren's world, where the music ebbs and flows through emotions just as does his favorite subject; love. "Ruby Rises," hints at an underlying Beatles influence, before dropping back into that familiar lilting Michael Franks soft jazzy tone. With the mention of jazz pop, Norah Jones has to come to mind, as does Nick Drake in the vocal performance, but quickly Oren will move beyond comparisons. This is an album of uncommon warmth and transcendent beauty. A confection to start your day or end your day with, or any time in between.
Buy here: The Opposite Side of the Sea
www.orenlavie.com
Diane di Stasio - Vox Eterna
Fans of Sarah Brightman stand up and take notice. Like a gunfighter coming in from the old west, we've got a new gunslinger (voice slinger?) in town. Diane di Stasio has stepped out of the chaparral with her latest full-length recording, Vox Eterna, and claimed her place as one of the more captivating artists in the ever-expanding world of classical crossover.
The phrase, "angelic voice," seems to get bandied about whenever someone needs to describe a woman's singing, but in this case, it's no lie. I mean that literally. If angels could sing, this is almost certainly what they'd sound like. Or at least what they'd want to listen to. A strong, enchanting soprano, Diane lends her voice to many different moods on this disc, and the results--whether remaking classic rock tunes, or covering operatic arias--are equally impressive, Diane's voice lending emotion and tenderness, adding an air of fragility to such classics as "Nights in White Satin," or "Fields of Gold." Her diaphanous take on "Nights in White Satin," is devastatingly haunting and mesmerizing, while her version of "Fields of Gold," is laced with such ethereal beauty, and such a graceful arrangement, I was searching to recall which classical master composed it, before remembering it was Sting. Diane knows her voice. She feels it. And with that knowledge, she tackles these classic rock compositions with restraint and grace, never over-reaching or basking in vocal histrionics. Just the perfect blend of a masterful voice added to a perfect song.
She's equally as impressive on the more operatic numbers, like " Fra Nuvole E Acqua," which can bring goosebumps to my burly skin.
If the world of classical crossover is your cup of tea, if the names Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman make your heart sing, then we've got a new song for you. Diane di Stasio. You'll be hearing much more about her in the future.
www.shadowlandmusic.com/
www.myspace.com/dianedistasio
Roofclimber - Ambient Funk
This post is actually more of a "head's up" than an actual album review since the band of the moment doesn't have any product released yet. But don't let that stop you from digging in and checking out the decidedly hip and definitely ambient funky sounds of Scotland's Roofclimber. More of a collective than an actual band, Roofclimber is a group of like-minded musicians who get together and put out some of the deepest groovin' downtempo beats this side of a Quango compliation. Featuring George Cheyne, drummer for the ultimate Ripple Favorite, apb, these cats describes their music as a soundtrack for a film waiting to happen.
Adding juicy tidbits of neo-sixties lounge jazz culture to their kaleidoscope of swirling ambient tones and juicy beats, this is some serious chill/downtempo that you don't want to miss. Just go point your browser to their myspace page, www.myspace.com/roofclimber and sit back and let the chill flow over you. Right now, there's only 4 songs on their player, but each one is a winner and the overall effect is a soothing, yet invigorating jazzy interlude to your day. Check out the buried sax on "Three Slow Grooves," or the retro-sixties spaciness married to the beat of "Music has a Profound Effect." Dig the propulsive beats and big old school keys of "I Wanna Talk About You," and the downtempo perfection, with it's swirling keys behind the fantastic mournful sax, of "Windy Tree."
If you're a fan of the downtempo vibe that still maintains a heartbeat pulse, you've got to give this a listen. The boys like to say that their music is equally suitable for the canteen on the Starship Enterprise or the Batmobile car stereo. Yeah, I'll go for that. But it's found a home in the Ripple office as well.
www.myspace.com/roofclimber
Now, the goal of this column is to give all you waveriders a glimpse into some of the mellower tunes that come into The Ripple Office. While we love a good metal slugfest or punk-cretin slime-freak as much as anybody, let's face it, some days we just want something that isn't going to hurt. And the music in this column does that and even goes one step further. . . it soothes. Any of these discs will help to melt away the drama of the day, soothe your tired soul, and get you re-energized to approach the day anew.
Oren Lavie - The Opposite Side of the SeaIsraeli-born singer-songwriter, Oren Lavie's biography states that he has curly brown hair and suspiciously cold feet. For some reason, I find this statement to be oddly compelling and appropriate since it was the original "Popsicle Toes," Michael Franks who first came to mind upon hearing the eloquence of the opening track and hit single, "Her Morning Elegance." Tender and light jazz-infused pop, gently lilting from the stereo with the occasional touch of a classical flourish, "Her Morning Elegance," is an immediate invitation to the warm and magical place that is Oren's music. Graced with a breathy, yet slightly textured baritone, the song dances across the various moods of his jazz pop, as delicate as gossamer draped across an open window.
Elsewhere in his bio, Oren states that he was born two minutes behind schedule and he's been trying to catch up ever since. That may be true, but you'd never know that from this album. This is a masterpiece of nuance and mood, that gently unfolds like the morning dew dissipating under the new day's sun. Oren is in no hurry, as delicate piano brings on the intro to "The Man Who Isn't There," or as gorgeously picked acoustic guitar leads us into the standout track, "Locked in a Room." The songs unfold languidly, delicately, just as they should. There is no hurry, nor do I want there to be one. I want to lose myself in Oren's world, where the music ebbs and flows through emotions just as does his favorite subject; love. "Ruby Rises," hints at an underlying Beatles influence, before dropping back into that familiar lilting Michael Franks soft jazzy tone. With the mention of jazz pop, Norah Jones has to come to mind, as does Nick Drake in the vocal performance, but quickly Oren will move beyond comparisons. This is an album of uncommon warmth and transcendent beauty. A confection to start your day or end your day with, or any time in between.
Buy here: The Opposite Side of the Sea
www.orenlavie.com
Diane di Stasio - Vox EternaFans of Sarah Brightman stand up and take notice. Like a gunfighter coming in from the old west, we've got a new gunslinger (voice slinger?) in town. Diane di Stasio has stepped out of the chaparral with her latest full-length recording, Vox Eterna, and claimed her place as one of the more captivating artists in the ever-expanding world of classical crossover.
The phrase, "angelic voice," seems to get bandied about whenever someone needs to describe a woman's singing, but in this case, it's no lie. I mean that literally. If angels could sing, this is almost certainly what they'd sound like. Or at least what they'd want to listen to. A strong, enchanting soprano, Diane lends her voice to many different moods on this disc, and the results--whether remaking classic rock tunes, or covering operatic arias--are equally impressive, Diane's voice lending emotion and tenderness, adding an air of fragility to such classics as "Nights in White Satin," or "Fields of Gold." Her diaphanous take on "Nights in White Satin," is devastatingly haunting and mesmerizing, while her version of "Fields of Gold," is laced with such ethereal beauty, and such a graceful arrangement, I was searching to recall which classical master composed it, before remembering it was Sting. Diane knows her voice. She feels it. And with that knowledge, she tackles these classic rock compositions with restraint and grace, never over-reaching or basking in vocal histrionics. Just the perfect blend of a masterful voice added to a perfect song.
She's equally as impressive on the more operatic numbers, like " Fra Nuvole E Acqua," which can bring goosebumps to my burly skin.
If the world of classical crossover is your cup of tea, if the names Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman make your heart sing, then we've got a new song for you. Diane di Stasio. You'll be hearing much more about her in the future.
www.shadowlandmusic.com/
www.myspace.com/dianedistasio
Roofclimber - Ambient FunkThis post is actually more of a "head's up" than an actual album review since the band of the moment doesn't have any product released yet. But don't let that stop you from digging in and checking out the decidedly hip and definitely ambient funky sounds of Scotland's Roofclimber. More of a collective than an actual band, Roofclimber is a group of like-minded musicians who get together and put out some of the deepest groovin' downtempo beats this side of a Quango compliation. Featuring George Cheyne, drummer for the ultimate Ripple Favorite, apb, these cats describes their music as a soundtrack for a film waiting to happen.
Adding juicy tidbits of neo-sixties lounge jazz culture to their kaleidoscope of swirling ambient tones and juicy beats, this is some serious chill/downtempo that you don't want to miss. Just go point your browser to their myspace page, www.myspace.com/roofclimber and sit back and let the chill flow over you. Right now, there's only 4 songs on their player, but each one is a winner and the overall effect is a soothing, yet invigorating jazzy interlude to your day. Check out the buried sax on "Three Slow Grooves," or the retro-sixties spaciness married to the beat of "Music has a Profound Effect." Dig the propulsive beats and big old school keys of "I Wanna Talk About You," and the downtempo perfection, with it's swirling keys behind the fantastic mournful sax, of "Windy Tree."
If you're a fan of the downtempo vibe that still maintains a heartbeat pulse, you've got to give this a listen. The boys like to say that their music is equally suitable for the canteen on the Starship Enterprise or the Batmobile car stereo. Yeah, I'll go for that. But it's found a home in the Ripple office as well.
www.myspace.com/roofclimber
Comments
You can download "Her Morning Elegance" for free (excellent quality) here:
http://amiestreet.com/music/oren-lavie/the-opposite-side-of-the-sea/